Ezekiel 24

1 Again, in the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, the LORD’s word came to me, saying,

On the tenth day of the tenth month of the ninth year, a message from the Lord came to me, saying,

2 “Son of man, write the name of the day, this same day. The king of Babylon drew close to Jerusalem this same day.

“Son of man, write down today's date, because this is the day that the king of Babylon started his siege of Jerusalem.

3 Utter a parable to the rebellious house, and tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says, “Put the cauldron on the fire. Put it on, and also pour water into it.

Then repeat the following parable to these rebellious people. Tell them that this is what the Lord God says: Get a pot and set it on the fire. Pour in some water.

4 Gather its pieces into it, even every good piece: the thigh and the shoulder. Fill it with the choice bones.

Fill it with some good cuts of meat from the thigh and the shoulder. Put in the best bones.

5 Take the choice of the flock, and also a pile of wood for the bones under the cauldron. Make it boil well. Yes, let its bones be boiled within it.”

Choose the best animal from the flock. Pile up the fuel underneath it. Get it boiling and cook the bones in it.

6 “‘Therefore the Lord GOD says: “Woe to the bloody city, to the cauldron whose rust is in it, and whose rust has not gone out of it! Take out of it piece after piece without casting lots for it.

So this is what the Lord God says: Disaster is coming to the city of that has shed so much blood! It is symbolized by the rusted pot, whose rust can't be cleaned off. Take out the meat bit by bit as it comes—don't choose which piece.

7 “‘“For the blood she shed is in the middle of her. She set it on the bare rock. She did not pour it on the ground, to cover it with dust.

For the blood she shed is still inside the city. She shed it openly on bare rock—she didn't even spill it on the ground and cover it up with dirt.

8 That it may cause wrath to come up to take vengeance, I have set her blood on the bare rock, that it should not be covered.”

In my anger and to punish, I have spilled her blood openly on bare rock, so it wouldn't be covered up.

9 “‘Therefore the Lord GOD says: “Woe to the bloody city! I also will make the pile great.

So this is what the Lord God says: Disaster is coming to the city of that has shed so much blood. I will also pile up a large heap of firewood.

10 Heap on the wood. Make the fire hot. Boil the meat well. Make the broth thick, and let the bones be burned.

Put on plenty of wood and light the fire. Make sure the meat is well cooked and add spices. Burn the bones.

11 Then set it empty on its coals, that it may be hot, and its bronze may burn, and that its filthiness may be molten in it, that its rust may be consumed.

Then put the empty pot back on the burning coals until it's hot and the copper metal glows. This will melt the dirt inside it and get rid of the rust.

12 She is weary with toil; yet her great rust, rust by fire, does not leave her.

So far it's been impossible to clean it —even fire couldn't burn out all its rust.

13 “‘“In your filthiness is lewdness. Because I have cleansed you and you were not cleansed, you will not be cleansed from your filthiness any more, until I have caused my wrath toward you to rest.

Because of your immorality you had made yourself unclean and I tried to clean you, but you refused to let me clean away your filth. So now you won't be pure again until I've finished being angry with you.

14 “‘“I, the LORD, have spoken it. It will happen, and I will do it. I will not go back. I will not spare. I will not repent. According to your ways and according to your doings, they will judge you,” says the Lord GOD.’”

I, the Lord, have spoken. The time is soon coming when I will do what I say. I won't change my mind or show pity, I won't stop. I will judge you by your attitude and actions, declares the Lord God.”

15 Also the LORD’s word came to me, saying,

A message from the Lord came to me, saying,

16 “Son of man, behold, I will take away from you the desire of your eyes with one stroke; yet you shall neither mourn nor weep, neither shall your tears run down.

“Son of man, look, I'm about to take away the one you love the most. She will die. But you must not mourn or weep. Don't cry any tears.

17 Sigh, but not aloud. Make no mourning for the dead. Bind your headdress on you, and put your sandals on your feet. Do not cover your lips, and do not eat mourner’s bread.”

Mourn in silence. Don't have any rituals for the dead. Dress normally—have your turban on and put your sandals on your feet. Don't veil your face and don't eat the bread used by mourners.”

18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. So I did in the morning as I was commanded.

I talked to the people in the morning, and my wife died in the evening. The next morning I did as I'd been told.

19 The people asked me, “Will not you tell us what these things mean to us, that you act like this?”

The people asked me, “What are you doing? Aren't you going to explain to us what this means?”

20 Then I said to them, “The LORD’s word came to me, saying,

So I told them, “A message from the Lord came to me, saying:

21 ‘Speak to the house of Israel, “The Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pities; and your sons and your daughters whom you have left behind will fall by the sword.

Tell the people of Israel that this is what the Lord God says: I am about to make my sanctuary unclean, this place you're so proud of that you think gives you power, the place you love so much, the place that makes you happy. Your sons and daughters that you left behind will be killed by the sword.

22 You will do as I have done. You will not cover your lips or eat mourner’s bread.

Then you'll do what I did. You won't veil your face or eat the bread used by mourners.

23 Your turbans will be on your heads, and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or weep; but you will pine away in your iniquities, and moan one toward another.

You will keep your turbans on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You won't mourn or weep, but you will die inside because of your sins, and you will groan to one another.

24 Thus Ezekiel will be a sign to you; according to all that he has done, you will do. When this comes, then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.’”’”

In this way Ezekiel will be a sign for you; you will do everything that he did. When this happens, then you will know that I am the Lord God.

25 “You, son of man, should not it be in the day when I take from them their strength, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that whereupon they set their heart—their sons and their daughters—

You, son of man, should know that when I destroy their fortress that is their pride and joy, the place they looked to for comfort and happiness —and their sons and daughters too—

26 that in that day he who escapes will come to you, to cause you to hear it with your ears?

when that happens someone who managed to get away will come and give you the news.

27 In that day your mouth will be opened to him who has escaped, and you will speak and be no more mute. So you will be a sign to them. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

On that day you will be able to speak; you won't be mute any longer. This is how you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.”